Dr. Pickart’s Copper Peptides – from Magic to Science

Ancient mages and alchemists striving to find the Fountain of Youth were the first to discover the remarkable rejuvenating effects of young blood. For centuries young blood was a key ingredient in many magic potions. However, it was not until the twentieth century when the ancient magic of rejuvenation finally received scientific validation.

In 1973, Dr. Loren Pickart (then a young scientist working on his PhD thesis in San Francisco) observed that when blood from young patients was added to liver cells obtained from older patients, old liver cells began to behave as biologically much younger cells, secreting proteins characteristic for young cells.

When blood from older patients was added to young liver cells, those cells started producing proteins like old cells. Dr. Pickart was then able to isolate the protein factor responsible for this rejuvenating effect. It turned out to be a peptide consisting of only three amino acids – glycine, histidine and lysine.

The most remarkable quality of this peptide was its high affinity for copper ions. Now this molecule is known as tripeptide GHK-Cu, where GHK represent three amino acids – glycine-histidine-lysine- and Cu stands for copper (II).

The Pandora's Box Opened – Discoveries Pile Up

In those days, Dr. Pickart had no idea what Pandora's Box he had opened. Soon a group in France started discovering the remarkable wound healing properties of GHK-Cu as well as observing its ability to boost collagen, elastin and DNA production in skin.

More wound healing studies followed in different laboratories all over the world – GHK was discovered to heal such difficult to manage wounds as diabetic and ischemic wounds, to help heal bones and ligaments (even horses’ hoofs), improve hair growth, repair skin cell damaged by X-rays (DNA repair), and improve blood vessel growth.

It also demonstrated remarkable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. A number of clinical studies showed its ability to improve the appearance of aging skin – reduce wrinkles, mottled pigmentation, improve skin elasticity and thickness. Recent research indicates that this molecule is also a gene regulator. GHK was selected out of 1309 compounds studied as one of the two molecules that can down-regulate expression of 70% genes that are overexpressed in aggressive metastatic cancer.

Dr. Pickart’s Skin Research

Since many effects of the GHK-Cu peptide were observed in skin and hair, Dr. Pickart eventually developed a keen interest in skin and its problems. He noticed a great similarity between the skin remodeling process in the course of wound healing and skin rejuvenation. In 1985, Dr. Pickart started a company (Procyte) to turn his discoveries into useful products.

Between 1986 and 1990 he found that creams containing GHK-Cu, when applied to human skin, increased the thickness of the dermis and epidermis, increased skin elasticity, improved wrinkles and pigmentation and resulted in removing imperfections such as blotchiness and damage marks.

Today, Dr. Pickart continues to investigate the useful properties of the GHK-Cu peptide. A second generation of copper-peptides have been developed with even more pronounced skin rejuvenating properties.

In the four decades that he has spent researching the causes and mechanisms of aging, Dr. Pickart couldn't help noticing how often cosmetic products that promise rejuvenation actually do the opposite, damaging the skin and hampering its regenerative processes.

Trying to find alternative to unnatural and damaging skin treatments, he recommends a natural and gentle approach that allows for babying the skin back to health, assisting natural repair forces within the skin.

Your Skin Has Power

Your skin is endowed with regenerative power. This means that given the right conditions in terms of adequate supply of nutrients, protection from environmental assaults and availability of regenerative regulators, it will heal itself, repair damage, rebuild its structures and restore its glowing appearance and natural resilience.

Many methods used by modern cosmetology bring fast and impressive results. However since they violate the skin’s biology and impair skin natural protective systems, the effects do not last. Sometimes the next morning the skin looks worse than ever – Cinderella becomes Count Dracula.

Only by respecting the skin’s biology, by following its rules and obeying its laws, can we reverse damage and turn back the wrinkled hands of time. The result may be not as quick as many modern treatments promise you, but if you learn to be patient and make it a habit to nurture your skin and support its regenerative power, you will be rewarded with a glowing and radiant appearance.

Explore this site to discover natural methods of caring for your skin to avoid damage and to bring forth its radiant beauty.

The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only.
Any suggestions mentioned are not for the treatment or prevention of any skin disease or condition.
If you have a special skin concern, please consult a physician or dermatologist first.